System and method for historical task sequence progress tracking

Abstract

The subject application is directed to a system and method for task sequence progress tracking. Following the receipt of data representative of a multi-step document processing operation to be performed on an associated electronic document a linear display is generated including multiple segments. Each segment corresponds to a specific step of the multi-step processing operation. The appearance of segments in the linear display is changed in accordance with progress of the processing operation. The segments in the linear display representing a future step, a current step, and a completed step, have different appearances. Therefore, the user is always oriented to where he is at in a multiple step process and knows how many steps remain.

1 . A task sequence progress tracking system comprising:
 means adapted for receiving data representative of a multi-step document processing operation to be performed on an associated electronic document;   means adapted for receiving, from an associated document processing device, progress data representative of progress of the multi-step document processing operation on the associated electronic document;   a linear display having a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a step of a multi-step document processing operation, each segment having an associated indicia representative of a step associated therewith;   means adapted for toggling an appearance of each segment from a first state, representative of a future step, to a second state representative of a current step, to a third state representative of a completed step, which toggling is in accordance with received progress data.   
   
   
       2 . The task sequence progress tracking system of  claim 1  wherein the first state is a base level, the second state is a highlighted level and the third state is a dimmed level such that an appearance of a segment in the first state is dominated by an appearance of a segment in the third state and wherein an appearance of a segment in the second state is dominated by an appearance of a segment in the first state. 
   
   
       3 . The task sequence progress tracking system of  claim 2  wherein each indicia includes a verbal description of an associated step. 
   
   
       4 . The task sequence progress tracking system of  claim 1  wherein the progress data is generated by an associated user engaging the series of steps. 
   
   
       5 . The task sequence progress tracking system of  claim 1  wherein the progress data is generated automatically by operation of the associated document processing device. 
   
   
       6 . The task sequence progress tracking system of  claim 1  further comprising means adapted for selectively altering an appearance of at least one portion of a segment in accordance with progress through its associated step. 
   
   
       7 . A method for task sequence progress tracking comprising the steps of:
 receiving data representative of a multi-step document processing operation to be performed on an associated electronic document;   receiving, from an associated document processing device, progress data representative of progress of the multi-step document processing operation on the associated electronic document;   generating a linear display having a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a step of a multi-step document processing operation, each segment having an associated indicia representative of a step associated therewith;   toggling an appearance of each segment from a first state, representative of a future step, to a second state representative of a current step, to a third state representative of a completed step, which toggling is in accordance with received progress data.   
   
   
       8 . The method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 7  wherein the first state is a base level, the second state is a highlighted level and the third state is a dimmed level such that an appearance of a segment in first state is dominated by an appearance of a segment in the third state and wherein an appearance of a segment in the second state is dominated by an appearance of a segment in the first state. 
   
   
       9 . The method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 8  wherein each indicia includes a verbal description of an associated step. 
   
   
       10 . The method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 7  wherein the progress data is generated by an associated user engaging the series of steps. 
   
   
       11 . The method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 7  wherein the progress data is generated automatically by operation of the associated document processing device. 
   
   
       12 . The method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 7  further comprising the step of selectively altering an appearance of at least one portion of a segment in accordance with progress through its associated step. 
   
   
       13 . A computer-implemented method for task sequence progress tracking comprising the steps of:
 receiving data representative of a multi-step document processing operation to be performed on an associated electronic document;   receiving, from an associated document processing device, progress data representative of progress of the multi-step document processing operation on the associated electronic document;   generating a linear display having a plurality of segments, each segment corresponding to a step of a multi-step document processing operation, each segment having an associated indicia representative of a step associated therewith;   toggling an appearance of each segment from a first state, representative of a future step, to a second state representative of a current step, to a third state representative of a completed step, which toggling is in accordance with received progress data.   
   
   
       14 . The computer-implemented method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 13  wherein the first state is a base level, the second state is a highlighted level and the third state is a dimmed level such that an appearance of a segment in first state is dominated by an appearance of a segment in the third state and wherein an appearance of a segment in the second state is dominated by an appearance of a segment in the first state. 
   
   
       15 . The computer-implemented method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 14  wherein each indicia includes a verbal description of an associated step. 
   
   
       16 . The computer-implemented method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 13  wherein the progress data is generated by an associated user engaging the series of steps. 
   
   
       17 . The computer-implemented method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 13  wherein the progress data is generated automatically by operation of the associated document processing device. 
   
   
       18 . The computer-implemented method for task sequence progress tracking of  claim 13  further comprising the step of selectively altering an appearance of at least one portion of a segment in accordance with progress through its associated step.